Awesome Friends: Mighty Axe Hops

"The people you surround yourself with influence your behaviors, so choose friends who have healthy habits." - Dan Buettner

I choose to believe healthy habits = following your heart, adventuring through life, and making a positive difference in the world. These are the types of people I choose to surround myself with, and be influenced by.

I'm excited to document and intentionally reflect on the incredible people in my life. Those that help me to have perspective, and inspire me to live my purpose. Eric Sannerud is one of those people.

The population outside my hometown reads 343 people - I'm the granddaughter of two farmers, with several uncles and cousins who commit their lives to farming. Naturally, even after moving to the city, I've befriended - farmers - this time of the urban variety.

While it a quarter acre hops farm is a little different than hundreds of acres and cows on a dairy farm, the dedication and hard work required is much the same.  I appreciate local food, and appreciate local beer even more! The fact that Eric grows Mighty Axe Hops for locally made Mighty Axe IPA makes me quite happy. 

Mighty Axe IPA first taps this Friday I'm pretty sad that I can't be there for the release. Check it out 4pm to close at Sociable Cider Werks on Jan 31 - more details here. Thankful to know such awesome people, and  I'm looking forward to my first pint of Mighty Axe IPA very soon!

Water scarcity, women's empowerment, and giving thanks.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love it so much that I intentionally celebrate Thanksgiving for the entire month of November. As often as possible I gather with people I love, eat entirely too much carb filled, delicious food, nap, chat, and give thanks. If it were up to me, we would celebrate thanksgiving year round. I understand I come from a place of privilege, rather than take this for granted, I try to appreciate what I have and be part of solutions.

This weekend I spent time catching up on the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. WEF gathers world leaders in government, business, and nonprofits together annually in Davos. While they had sessions on several interesting and important global issues, the two that I followed most were on water and women. A few highlights and moments of thanks

Water scarcity is something I've always known about, but had a chance to see first hand in Sierra Leone in 2012. After bucket bathing and only being able to drink bottled water for 2 weeks, I became very conscious of the incredible privilege of warm showers and drinkable tap water. Matt Damon uses his celebrity status and spotlight to bring attention to our global water scarcity through co-founding water.org - a few things that struck me:

Dripping taps in rich countries lose more water than is available each day to more than 1 billion people.

More people have a mobile than a toilet. 

"Access to water isn’t an end in itself. Access to water is access to education, access to work, access—above all—to the kind of future we want for our own families, and all the members of our human family." Matt Damon 

So in addition to being thankful for tap water and plumbing, I'm going to figure out a way to be part of the solution. Likely through involvement with Global Shapers. Stay tuned.

Glass ceilings, gender inequality, and societal gender roles have been constricting factors for women around the world for far too long. I've never particularly loved the term "feminism" but if defined as: the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, than yes, I am a feminist. And this weekend, I was virtually participating with some of the most audacious, passionate women around the world in a global conversation about the gender gap.

"When you invest in a girl's education, she feeds herself, her children, her community & her nation" Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway

The US is ranked 23rd on the Global Gender Gap Index (#1 is highest equality for women)

There is a full 397 page annual report on the Global Gender Gap that I will be reading on my many upcoming flights. I know there is certainly work to do in the US on gender equality, but being 23rd made me realize my privilege once again. Sierra Leone wasn't even ranked, but Morocco where I will be in three short months is ranked 129th. I'm going on a Stretch Expedition for a week to care, share, and teach with an emphasis on women's empowerment. It'll be eye opening for sure. 

Women's leadership has been and continues to be a passion of mine. I formerly sat on the board of Leaders of Today and Tomorrow and while I still support their efforts, I can't be as involved due to my travels. I continue to look for ways to collaborate with, mentor, and learn from incredible women to be actively involved in a solution to this global issue.

There is so much to do, so little time. Systemic change requires global collaboration, but there are several ways to make a local and immediate impact. I go back to my favorite quote: "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." --Howard Thurman


Come alive. Find your passion. Be part of a solution. Give thanks.

Managing Expectations

I'm a pretty linear person. That may be an understatement. I prefer to be planful and intentional, efficient and effective, goal oriented, etc. Turns out the world doesn't cater to my default. Change is constant. I used to get pretty bent out of shape about things being out of order, or not going as planned. Then I realized I was spending way too much time being frustrated about things out of my control.

Practice makes perfect. Turns out in the six years I was actively involved with STLF, I got lots of practice improvising, troubleshooting, and accommodating during uncertain times or changing plans. Many a bus breakdown, cancelled service projects, and medical mishaps later... I learned to roll with the punches. I still get frustrated at times when things unexpectedly change, but today I was talking to a coworker and said, "No worries, I will plan for unpredictable." She laughed, and I realized my "coping mechanism" is attempting to manage expectations. 

I've accepted that I'll always be in situations that challenge my desire to execute a perfect plan. To be honest, if it ever did happen, I'd look for a bigger challenge immediately. I do try to understand ahead of time how flexible I'll need to be - and it generally leads to a much more forgiving and less stressed state of mind when things/situations are not ideal. You learn to accommodate.

• Hiring targets will forever be changing, more roles to fill = job security.
• Airlines are often delayed (for many legitimate and sometimes illegitimate reasons) I always have a book with me.  
• Single pane glass does not insulate during Minnesota winters, I keep gloves and slippers at my desk.

One of my favorite things about Minnesota is when people wear shorts when it's 45 degrees in the spring, but pull out their winter coats when it gets to 40 degrees in the fall. Expectations is everything. As I've started working with people based in other parts of the country, I realize just how odd Minnesota winter seems to those that don't work here. These pictures capture it well...the camaraderie and creativity makes me happy. 

The fact is, there are some things we just can't change - my linear thought patterns, Minnesota winters, our past, things that happen to us, but we can choose how we perceive or react to those things. Ben Franklin said: 

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

So when I get frustrated with things not going according to my plan, I say a quick Serenity Prayer, assume positive intent by others involved, and manage expectations for the future.

This concept in action: Waking up this morning and seeing "Real Feel: -35" on my phone and thinking, "it was 20 degrees colder two weeks ago, three layers of pants and two wool scarves should keep me warm on my walk to the bus." 

It did. 

I will always be a linear person, but assuming things will change and keeping an open mind to new solutions is much less frustrating than insanity.

Goals Update: January

The last time I made a year long list, I waited until month 11 to do a vast majority of it. I wasn't going to make that mistake twice. 

Performance arts is the focus for January. 

Thanks to an ACT I Subscription to Theater Latte Da, I went to Cabaret at Pantages Theater. Not the type of performance I was expecting to see done locally, but it was really fantastic. If you're in Minneapolis, I'd highly recommend seeing it before the show ends February 9.

Live music is something I've always enjoyed, but never prioritized. Thankfully, I have friends that go to concerts often, and sometimes invite me along. I said yes to "Communion MN" at Varsity Theater despite not having heard any of the bands before. I hadn't been to the Varsity since college. It was a fantastic homecoming. It all started with a prime parking spot... once we got inside, in addition to wonderful music, there was delicious local beer in cans, a used book sale, and a photo booth!

Out til 1:30am on a Tuesday night may have not been the most responsible decision, but thanks to Caribou this morning, Tanya - 1, Wednesday - 0.


I'm off to a decent start - here's to hoping the adventure lasts all year long.

Adventures for 2014

• Trying new forms of moving and exercising
• Nothing besides spontaneous dancing here...
• Vertical Endeavors with Global Shapers is in the near future.
• Cooking for one (beyond pasta and eggs)
• White Chicken Chili
• Chicken Florentine Pasta
• Chicken and Avocado Cheesy Bread 
• Practicing self-care
• Drinking water daily at work
• Bought massage 4-pack for the year
• Mixing different friend groups/life circles
• STLF & Work friends over lunch
• HS and TC friends at comedy show
• Using paid time off
• Not yet... BUT Morocco is paid for, and Pittsburgh dates set.
• Enjoying performance arts
• Cabaret by Theater Latte Da (Pantages Theater)
• Semi Secret Comedy Show (Downtown Skyways)
• Communion MN Concert (Varsity Theater) 
• Achieving airline status 
• I leave on my first trip Sunday... booked on Delta.
• Activating human drives
• This is going to be an ongoing thing with blogs. It's happening though!
• Keeping plants alive
• Work plant - alive and well!
• Home plant - a little droopy, but still green.
• Listening to music instead of watching TV
• Mumford and Sons Pandora is a beautiful thing.
• Spotify lists are getting more play.
• Thinking critically for fun
• The Charge - Brendon Brochard. Tabbed like a text book!
• To Sell is Human - Daniel Pink. Notes taken for work team discussion.
• Creating application/interview process for volunteer positions
• Living values through time allocation
• Spending more time with friends which is positive.
• Still spending more time on cell phone games than I'd like.

Any ideas for ways to continue realizing these goals and/or volunteers to adventure with me are certainly welcome. Let me know!

T

What's Your Space Jam?

It's been a year since Kid President published his infamous pep talk on YouTube. If you aren't one of the 31,000,000+ views, it'll be three and a half minutes well spent. Besides finding Kid President (Bobby Novak) completely adorable and hilarious, I feel he spreads an important message...and better yet, people seem to listen and respond to him.

So back to his pep talk...many memorable lines - my favorite being, "What's your space jam?"

I've always had a "thing" ... when I was 10, it was making lunch and coordinating activities for my neighborhood friends while our parents were at work. When I was in high school, it was student council, and then yearbook. When I got to college, it was STLF. After college it was STLF. I've always had a natural space to impact people, make a difference, and change the world in big ways and small.

Imagine my surprise, when I leave STLF (knowing for a full year I would do so), and I'm thrown for a loop when my primary identity and "thing" is gone. I never felt like I identified primarily with my employment, but like the vast majority of people, I did.

So I joined a bunch of young professional groups, I read a bunch of books, I tried to find community and meaning anywhere I could. I was feeling pretty good about everything, until last month when I was at my Global Shapers of Minneapolis meeting and our host from ARC asked us to say our name, and what our "thing" was. I rambled some combination of work, leadership, volunteering, StrengthsFinder, Minneapolis... and stuff. Everyone else had a concise answer - local food, education, sexual violence awareness, mixed cultures, fair trade - I did not. Unsatisfied with myself I reflected, and then verbally processed with J, and then reflected some more. I still don't have a concise answer, but I think my thing is living a full life, and helping others do the same. I'm at my best when helping others realize their thing...being their cheerleader, brainstorming buddy, solution finder, accountability partner, devils advocate, or whatever it is to help them along to being their best self.

Fortunately for me, this does loosely tie into my day job as a campus recruiter. I'm also surrounded by some amazing and talented people doing incredible things that I can support and share! More in posts to come.

Not sure it's quite Space Jam worthy, but it'll work for now.
T

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Apparently I'm all into PBS throwbacks lately. Last weekend was full of the "Letter B" and had me thinking Sesame Street, this week I'm finding inspiration from Mr. Rogers. The snow won't stop falling in Minnesota, so I've decided to embrace it. After I decided it was going to be a coffee shop day and I didn't want to dig out my car - I took a short walk admiring how awesome my neighborhood looks with freshly fallen snow, and set up shop at Segue Cafe. 

Segue used to be the place where everyone knew my name - 8am every morning I got my morning coffee. It's where I met delightful neighbors, helped Jane think of new ideas to drive business or give back, and went to think, be super productive, etc. After taking a job outside of the neighborhood, I am no longer a regular. They close at 6pm and I'm hardly home from work, Saturdays always seem to get away from me, and as a Christian non-profit, they are closed on Sunday. Sometimes life is distracting.

As a side note, groups of friends (typically old men) who gather for coffee daily have always been one of my favorite things. Something I hope happens when I retire, or have less structured days. When I worked at a Holiday Gas Station in high school, there was a 6am, 8am, 10am, and 2pm group that would gather for a cup of coffee and enjoy chatting about anything from world events to small town gossip, their past and present lives ... fast forward to life in Minneapolis, I find Dave and his crew at Segue every morning. 

Today was no different, and it was so refreshing to see that nothing had changed. I caught up with Dave and Rich - upcoming trips to California to visit the grandkids, fall adventures in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, family, and the rest. Dave's a retired teacher and still plays jazz drums from time to time. As I go to set up shop he says, "It's so nice to see you Tanya, come around more often and let's properly catch up."

I felt happy after running into Dave. Happy is kind of generic, but it's all I've got right now. Part of it is knowing that my wanderlust may never go away - part of it  is my neighborhood in downtown Minneapolis feeling more like home. I'm a sucker for community, and Dave reminded me this morning that I've got it right where I am. I've always been torn between loving the small town I grew up in, and also the "big city" I now call home. A blogger from North Dakota called it Urban Mind, Rural Heart. 

I think Saturdays in Segue is going to be a thing from now on. I miss being a regular in my own neighborhood. Now I just need a good bar, and come summer, a good park bench.

Happy Saturday,
T

Coming Alive

For some unknown period of time, my favorite quote has been: 

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." --Howard Thurman

For an even longer time, I've believed if you want something to happen, you should probably put together an action plan of how it's going to get done. So the time has come to put an action plan around this "coming alive" business.

2013 was an interesting year. It was fine mostly, few highs...few lows, mostly fine. In the last 6 weeks of the year, I had three people in my life pass away. Death is an odd thing to process, it unleashes a wide range of emotions in people, and without a doubt offers a dose of perspective. I tell you this not as a woe is me, but for context. I'm not much for resolutions, and maybe that's why I let a few weeks pass before deciding what living with Perspective and Purpose means. So here we are - with inspiration from The Charge, and YesandYes, I begin to document the adventure of living with perspective and purpose, with the intention of coming alive and experiencing a charged life.

Adventures for 2014

• Trying new forms of moving and exercising
• Cooking for one (beyond pasta and eggs)
• Practicing self-care
• Mixing different friend groups/life circles
• Using paid time off
• Enjoying performance arts
• Achieving airline status 
• Activating human drives
• Keeping plants alive
• Listening to music instead of watching TV
• Thinking critically for fun
• Living values through time allocation

Since my list was accidentally 12 items long, I plan to update on these play out one per month. I hope to also include everyday experiences, novelty challenges, and moments of reflection that put "stress" and "busyness" in perspective for me.

Best case scenario, a few people read it and can relate or feel inspired to figure out their own version of living with purpose and perspective.

Worst case scenario, no one reads this and I have a reminder of what was working when I lose focus. 

Thanks for being with me from the beginning.

T